Battlebots and FIRST

[bigqueue]

Originally posted by Monkey
I was just wondering what FIRST contestants think of Battlebots. I heard a while back that some teachers didn't like the show because it encouraged violence (or something).

When I first saw Battlebots I was not too excited about it because at forst, the bots there were all similar. Also,, I saw that most of the "killing" mechanisms looked frightening to humans, but they seemed silly when going up against a steel clad robot. (big chopping axes and swords)

My other problem with it was that you built this design marvel only to have it beat to pieces in the end. (even if you win)

But after watchjing it for a while I saw the design creativity starting to come out. Subtle changes like wedges, spinning momentum bashers, symetrical shapes that are either self-flipping or operate in any side.....I could see the engineering thinking occuring.....and lets face it, making something tough and indistructable is always one of the main engineering challenges in all designs.

So, I have grown to appreciate Battlebots....and BTW, I love Junk Yard Wars because it actually takes people through the thought process of the people and their creation.

All are a way to turn Engineering to Practical....which is one of the problems that people have appreciating Engineering.....it all seems like "book knowledge" and they just don't understand that all of the products they buy and take for granted were Engineered and created.

BTW: I also recommend the Trinity College Fire Fighting Robot Contest to any of you who might want to get into Autonomous robots. It seems simple, until you try to do it....and like First, you will NOT find a better more helpful group of people!

Here are my past fire-fighters:
http://www.tiac.net/users/bigqueue/h...e_fighter.html

Here is a link to the Fire FIghting Robot Contest:

http://www.trincoll.edu/events/robot/

Enjoy,
-Quentin